Music-making card turns objects into wacky instruments

Guitars, trombones and violins are so last century. A device about the size of a credit card lets you transform a plant into a piano or make a glass of water behave like a drum.

Developed by Joseph Pleass and a team at Dentaku design studio in London, the pocket-sized board, called Ototo, combines a synthesiser with twelve touch-sensitive keys arranged like an octave on a keyboard. Conductive objects can be connected to the keys with crocodile clips, allowing you to trigger notes by touching the object. "It uses the same technology as a touchscreen," says Pleass.

The company's Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its target of £50,000 with a few days to spare. They will soon begin production, ready to ship the first devices in June.

Drainpipe saxophone

Up to four different sensors can also be connected to modify the pitch, loudness and texture of a sound. Blowing into a breath sensor, for example, allows you to modify a tune with the strength of your breath – handy if you fancy making a drainpipe into a saxophone. Other sensors let you use inputs like light, force or swiping motions to control a sound.

The device will enable people to make their own wacky instruments without having to learn how to write code or solder. Compared with systems like Makey Makey, the first product to turn everyday objects into instruments, it has the advantage of being self-contained. "Ours is portable, you don't need to connect it to a computer," says Pleass. However, the system can still be attached to a computer to act as a MIDI controller.

Andrew McPherson of Queen Mary University of London is also developing novel, customisable electronic instruments. He says what makes the self-contained device even more appealing is the fact that it is completely reconfigurable – you can connect it to something different every time you use it. "It's a compelling combination that should let people make creative and intuitive new instruments," he says.

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